In the eyes of travelers, tourists, and locals alike, Saint-Germain-des-Près serves as the archetype of the quintessential Parisian neighborhood. Bursting with character, charm, and a fascinating wealth of history, the neighborhood in the 6th arrondissement sits on the left bank not far from the Seine and the Île de la Cité. The quarter has been home to countless writers, artists, and philosophers, and a multitude of publishing houses, museums, cafés, art galleries, jazz clubs, and universities, among other celebrated institutions. But for all the culture that the neighborhood has birthed, none of it would be here were it not for the église of Saint-Germain-des-Près, the church around which the village was established.

The Church of Saint-Germain-des-Près is the city's oldest church and the very heart of the vibrant neighborhood. It was first built by King Clovis in A.D. 543, and while the original structure was obliterated some 500 years after it was built, the current structure standing in its place has remained for over 1,000 years. While it has stood vigilantly for centuries—surviving fires, a brief stint as a jail, and countless restorations— it has long been in a tragic state of neglect and in desperate need of repair. To counteract the ravages of time, some passionate Americans have banded together to procure the funding needed to save the church for years to come by starting a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, appropriately named the American Friends for the Preservation of Saint-Germain-des-Près.

Among the group is David Sheppe, the program leader and a board member. “Because of its age, it contains a remarkable collection of diverse architectural styles, ranging from Romanesque to Gothic to 19th-century classic revivalism to Modern,” explains Sheppe. “It contains historic and beautiful stained glass windows, the oldest of which are a thousand years old, as well as irreplaceable artworks throughout—mosaics, murals, stone carvings, arcs boutants, wooden transepts, and more.” The French are known for being fiercely protective of their cultural heritage, but while the government has provided some funding toward the restoration, it is not nearly enough to cover the multiyear project. About 85 percent of the estimated 6 million euros (or $5,700,000) needed will have to come from private hands.

Columns before restorative work pictured on the left, and after on the right.

"About four or five years ago, it was decided that it was time to put this thing right, so that the church can stand for another 1,000 years," said Sheppe. The Foundation has hired Pierre-Antoine Gatier as lead architect and crafted a five-phase plan that will restore different areas of the structure, from the murals and stained glass windows to the star-filled ceiling and the chapel, which will not be complete until 2022. To raise the funding, the American nonprofit has partnered with its French counterpart, the Preservation of Saint Germain des Prés Foundation, who are working on both sides of the Atlantic to find willing donors. Together, they've launched a campaign that invites patrons to adopt one of the 800 stars on the church's ceiling, which will then be reflected on their digital interactive map.

Restoration efforts have been as much a part of the church's history as the church itself. During the French Revolution, the church was used to store gunpowder, leading, perhaps unsurprisingly, to a large explosion that destroyed much of it and its abbey. In the 19th century, the famed writer Victor Hugo and his friends were heavily invested in restoring the structure, and their mini-restoration in the 1840s was the last time the church was touched. In the many decades since, the same culprits have come into play: humidity and water damage, loose tiles here and there, benign neglect over time, and a lack of funding. But though much work lies ahead, both foundations are hopeful and excited about the church's restoration. "This is not necessarily a religious project; it's about architectural preservation and restoration," said Sheppe. "Everyone feels this project so deeply in their bones and wants to be part of the church's history for the next 1,000 years."

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